The Steelers have a good chance of reaching the Super Bowl this season primarily for one reason

Tom Brady is wearing this uniform

…”they will never win another Super Bowl until Tom Brady retires or dies”


The decision by Tom Brady to seek free agency after a stellar career with the New England Patriots may turn out to be a disastrous one for him and for his former coach, Bill Bellichick. 


I have said for years that Brady made Bellichick, not vice versa, while acknowledging that the Patriots’ system he devised was perfect for Brady. 


I had made a comment on this blog a few years ago that the Steelers would never win another Super Bowl in my lifetime, citing Tom Brady as the reason. I said like the quote above notes that until Brady retired or died, the Steelers had no chance. 


Obviously, I was wrong. Instead of retiring from the Pats and celebrating his great career in Boston, he made a fateful decision than angered the Pats fans who simply idolized and adored him. 


However, what I am writing about in this piece is that the Steelers, off to their greatest start in more than 40 years, have fans dreaming of another Super Bowl. 


And they have a shot — because Brady is gone from the Patriots and wearing another uniform. 


Brady simply dominated Ben


Roethlisberger has not played well against Brady, particularly in recent years. Brady, on the other hand, was outstanding against the Steelers,


Brady was nothing short of outstanding when facing Roethlisberger and the Steelers. His overall passer rating in those games was a scintillating 112.9, with a 29-5 TD-INT ratio that would represent one superb season against a wide variety of opponents. That's good, too, because Roethlisberger played well in that series for the most part, too, with a 90.7 passer rating of his own and 22 touchdown passes.


Scott Smith, “Tom Brady vs. Manning, Brees, and the NFL’s 

best,” Buccanners.com, March 20, 2020


Brady won 75 percent of the time


When you win 75 percent of the time, that is an outstanding record. 


However, look at Brady’s record against Mike Tomlin’s teams,


Here's Brady's record against the Steelers in the Tomlin era:


  • 7-1 record
  • 70.8 completion percentage (207 for 282)
  • 2,571 passing yards
  • 23 touchdown passes
  • 1 interception


NBC Sports


For context, Tomlin has beaten a Brady-led team only once, and he has an incredible 23-1 TD-interception ratio. 


So, when I said that, I had facts to back up that statement. 


Fast forward to 2021


Now, the Steelers have the best record in the NFL, and they have a good chance of securing the number 1 seed if they continue to play well. 


Brady is with the Bucs, and as their collapse against the Saints last night, 38-3, 31-0 at halftime, was one of Brady’s worst games ever. 


And, prior to the Monday night game against the Jets, the Patriots are a woeful 2-6. 


So, the Steelers have a good shot at reaching the Super Bowl — for two other reasons. 


Schedule is weak, AFC stinks


Now, despite their undefeated record, some NFL fans are questioning whether or not the Steelers are really that good. 


First, they argue that the collective record of Steeler opponents if woeful: 29-36-1, 44 percent. 


In addition, the Steelers struggled against some of the poorest teams in the NFL, the Cowboys and Broncos, who are 5-12 overall. 


However, the Steelers have defeated two of the best teams from 2019, the Ravens and the Titans. They have one game against the Ravens remaining, along with ones against the Buffalo Bills and the Colts. The Browns could be pesky, too, though they were not in the first game.


AFC is not as tough as last year


In addition, another point in the Steelers’ favor is that the AFC as a whole is not a tough as it was last year. There is not a dominant team like the Chiefs and Ravens were last year, though both of them could get on a roll in the second half of the season. 


I kind of doubt it, but it is possible. Both teams are struggling with different aspects of their game. 


However, with the AFC down, that could work in the Steelers’ favor.


So, while I do not anticipate a Steelers Super Bowl victory, it could very well happen. This might be their last best chance. 


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